Universal Crossword

ACROSS

1 Off in the distance

5 Scary giant

9 Hangs in there

14 Big name in pineapple

15 Swamp menace,

informally

16 Greek leader?

17 -

19 Gymnastics gold

medalist Kerri

20 Baron’s title

21 It may mean “Pet me!”

23 Opera princess who

loves Radames

24 Payment promises

26 Rhinoceros part

28 Daisylike flowers

31 Slightly cracked

33 Spy org. that split up in

1991

36 -

39 “___ it snappy!”

40 Stretch of history

41 Sci-fi princess who loves

Han

42 -

47 CIA’S predecessor

48 Grape or tomato holder

49 Floppy-eared hound

50 Last word of a prayer

52 Donate

53 Drink at a sushi bar

55 “Catch ya later,” in

London 58 Children hunt for them

annually

61 Double checkers?

63 Commonly misused adverb, or how to read the clues to 17-, 36- and 42-Across

66 Like the best-case

scenario

67 Swear to

68 Minute ___ (juice brand)

69 Like the screws in

eyeglasses

70 Achy

71 Pros at saving lives

DOWN

1 The second word of this

clue, e.g.: Abbr.

2 Fair’s opposite

3 Additionally

4 Pet that may be “golden”

5 Condition with rituals,

briefly

6 International bakers’ units

7 Flower on a float

8 Automatic response to a

call?

9 ___ Vegas Aces

10 Wedding site

11 Parts of a fire safety

system

12 Ungraceful landing

sound

13 Multiseason show’s

storyline, perhaps

18 Love to pieces

22 Alphabetically first of the

five W’s

25 Seabees’ org.

27 "... man ___ mouse?”

28 Have the intention of

29 Iranian leaders, once

30 Protests during the

national anthem

31 Button on an electronic

contract

32 Rock icon Jett

34 Tour leader

35 Monster

37 Marine bird

38 Its final score may be

20-21

43 The night before

44 “You ___ lyin’!”

45 ___-Wan Kenobi

46 Seesaw on a decision

51 “Will & Grace” Emmy

winner Mullally

52 Swamp menace,

informally

53 Comedy sketch

54 Political assistant

56 “Sad to say ...”

57 Pioneering DVR

59 Glitzy rock style

60 Cut, as a well-taped box

62 Crafty

64 Lamb’s mother

65 Three-ft. measures